The Wyomissing players and coaches who were on the field and sideline last season at Hersheypark Stadium for the PIAA Class 3A championship game know they can compete with Central Valley.
They watched the Spartans play a pristine first half and take a seven-point lead into the locker room.
The second half was another story, as the Warriors used their physicality and speed to dominate the Spartans and pull away for a 35-21 win.
“Besides all the speed, they were very, very physical,” Wyomissing coach Bob Wolfrum said that day. “We hadn’t played at that level all year. We just really couldn’t deal with it.”
When the two teams meet again Saturday at noon at Hersheypark Stadium in the state final, Wyomissing (15-0) will confront some of the same players who made a difference in 2020.
Central Valley’s most high-profile player is lineman Sean FitzSimmons, a 6-3, 280-pound senior who has committed to Pitt. He recently received the Bill Fralic Award, which is given to the top lineman in the WPIAL.
He led the Warriors’ defensive front a year ago that shut down the Spartans in the second half. This season, he has 114 tackles, including 47 for loss and 21 sacks.
He’s not the only talented player up front for Central Valley (14-0), which is allowing just 8.4 points per game. Senior Matt Merritt has 18 tackles for loss and five sacks, Jordan Karczewski, also a senior, has seven tackles for loss and four sacks, and junior Jackson Tonya had 109 tackles, including 27 for loss and 13 sacks.
“Saying the game will be decided up front is about as accurate as you can get from both of us,” Central Valley coach Mark Lyons told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
On offense, FitzSimmons has opened holes for senior Landon Alexander, who has rushed for 2,166 yards and scored 28 touchdowns this season. The program’s leading rusher, he ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries against the Spartans last year.
Receiver Jayvin Thompson, a junior, also is back for the Warriors, who have won 26 straight.
He made a key play last year. He signaled for a fair catch on the opening kickoff of the second half, which froze the Spartans defenders, then fielded the ball and returned it to the Wyomissing 33. The officials missed the fair catch call.
This season, Thompson has caught 28 passes for 750 yards and nine touchdowns. He also has made 11 interceptions.
Wyomissing has a Division I-caliber lineman of its own in junior Jven Williams. The 6-5, 310-pounder has improved immensely since last season and has received numerous offers this fall, including from Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Pitt.
He’s helped the Spartans and their Wing-T offense average 44.7 points per game. They’re allowing just 8.5.
Senior Tommy Grabowski leads Wyomissing in rushing yards with 1,362 and 26 touchdowns on 184 carries. Amory Thompson, a senior, has 885 yards on 95 carries and junior Drew Eisenhower has 853 yards and on 110 carries. Eisenhower has scored 19 TDs this season and Thompson 17.
Though the Spartans don’t throw much, quarterback Ben Zechman, a junior, has been efficient. He’s completed 63% of his passes for 781 yards and 11 touchdowns with two interceptions.
Tight end Aiden Mack, a senior, is the Spartans’ top receiver with 10 catches for 248 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, senior linebacker Jack Miller leads the Spartans in tackles with 72. Grabowski has 69 tackles. Senior Nevin Carter has made three interceptions.
Source: Berkshire mont